How about that Hugo Chavez?
I’m inclined to think he is a part of a (mostly) positive trend toward southern hemisphere autonomy, but I just bought a drum machine on e-bay from a Venezualan who is not happy about his leader at all. Thoughts?
DS
22 Responses to “How about that Hugo Chavez?”
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September 23rd, 2006 at 11:42 am
Chavez is a clown. Anyone that is best buddies w/ Ahmadinejad has a screw loose. Can you imagine what would happen if a world leader went to Venezuela, called Chavez the devil, and basically called for the destruction of his nation? ONLY IN AMERICA.
September 23rd, 2006 at 1:11 pm
Chavez is the textbook definition of a fascist, ruining property rights, taking political prisoners, possibly rigging elections. Chavez is in reality what some of Bush’s most extreme critics think he is, which is somewhat ironic.
South American autonomy will help everyone long-term, but not if it’s guys like Chavez leading the charge.
September 23rd, 2006 at 9:11 pm
I’m inclined to agree with luke about Ahmadinejad.
But I’d like to believe Hugo Chavez is doing things right. For starters, anyone who isn’t crazy about Bush (and I’m being kind) gets automatic points. He definitely seems to be working with the mind of a humanitarian.
It’s hard to say without actually living in the country. Like I said, it “seems” and I’d “like” to believe it. I guess you could say I’m just really eager to see someone actually doing good things in the world nowadays.
- Russell
September 24th, 2006 at 11:32 am
I have a few friends from Venezuela and they’re not extremely thrilled with Chavez. I happen to appreciate his willingness to crucify Bush and the general direction of the West, not to mention his efforts to help people (as in the case with relief for hurricane Katrina). However, he seems a bit pretentious and often self-aggrandizing. I worry about his ultimate goals, should he succeed in uniting South America (precluding Brazil).
Has any body actually read that book he suggested by Noam Chomsky? I’ve enjoyed a few of the recent dictations on the history of American dominance (e.g. Michael Klare?s “Blood and Oil”), but this book has become such a trendy thing, I am inclined to wait until its price goes back to
September 24th, 2006 at 10:03 pm
I admit, I got a chuckle out of his speech… but it really doesn’t make me respect him any more or any less.
He did it for theatrics and the world got a wee laugh….
September 24th, 2006 at 11:03 pm
I’m amazed that this Chavez character hasn’t been booted from power yet, if indeed so many Venezuelans are unhappy with him. They’re usually not the most passive people. And the drama unfolds…
September 25th, 2006 at 2:52 am
I agree with russelld in that it is hard to say without living in a country. Some people might like him, some people might not, but unless if you live in Venezuela, you really don’t have any idea what he is like as a leader until you experience him. The question I would like to know is how well does he represent the Venezuelan people and what they want in a leader?
September 25th, 2006 at 8:14 am
Hi Duncan,
I never really thought about this one. Have fun with the drum machine !!!
Best,
Michele
XO
September 25th, 2006 at 6:37 pm
Duncan,
As much as I LOVE to hear anybody jump all over G.W. Bush, I’m not so sure about this guy….it’s really hard to tell from the outside, looking in.
Peace,
Damien
September 25th, 2006 at 10:45 pm
Honestly, my first thought was to wonder how you started discussing world politics with someone on ebay! How interesting…
September 26th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
First of all, the only reasons Chavez is “buddy-buddy” with Ahmadinejad is because those two are among the very few world leaders who actually dare to challenge American power (or hegemony, if you prefer) on a regular basis. I’m not implying this is a positive development in world affairs, but if you look at it from a wider perspective, it makes sense that the two would become allies, regardless of their political leanings and domestic agendas. If you’re branded a rogue - whether deservedly or not - and position yourself as an enemy/opponent to the dominant global power, you’re certainly going to attempt to find others who are in the same position. Beggars can’t be choosers.
Therein also lies the reason why Chavez is hated and despised by American politicians. The past (and present…and future) has shown that elites who are part of the dominant power usually don’t have a problem with violations of human rights and general political oppression (including rigged elections), provided the government/leader in question accepts all demands. If Chavez followed the rules and kept his mouth shut - like Lula in Brazil, actually - we wouldn’t be having this discussion at all. If you don’t do what the G8 says, you will be isolated and cut off.
(It also doesn’t help that Venezuela possesses a great deal of petroleum. Despite all this rhetoric on both sides about how awful the other side is, Venezuela is still the number two supplier of oil to the United States. Isn’t politics grand?)
As for Chavez’s popularity, opinion usually depends on social/economic class in this case. If you’re among the three percent of people who owned three-fourths of all land in the country, you’re probably not going to be happy with Chavez giving away land you’ve abandoned and aren’t using to people who have absolutely nothing. If you were living in abject poverty before Chavez came along, you’re probably glad to have some sort of access to education and medicine for once in your life. Of course, there are plenty of legitimate complaints, and I really don’t think Chavez is some sort of miracle worker or wonderful leader. The government is still generally corrupt and inept. Chavez is starting to crack down on political opponents, going after the media in particular. The country has a great deal of problems, but the situation has slightly improved since Chavez took over. That’s certainly no comfort to the people who are being persecuted, but at least compared to several other South/Latin American countries, Venezuela can be considered stable.
In response to the claims of rigged elections - the European Union and the Organization of American States, among other organizations, sent observers during the 2004 recall referendum and found no evidence of tampering. Quite frankly, there’s more evidence for the claim that the 2004 U.S. Presidential elections were rigged, and I don’t buy that one at all…
I haven’t heard anything about political prisoners. The most I’ve heard about human rights violations is that members of the police forces have beaten and even murdered different sorts of people, from indigenous leaders to political protesters. If that’s all, it’s a bit difficult to blame that on Chavez’s policies, especially since this was the status quo before he came into power. It’s his fault for being incapable of doing anything about it, however.
Chavez is not a textbook definition of a fascist. In his regime, there is no element of corporatism, nor is there any element of militarism, anti-communism, anti-liberalism, etc. Sure, you can argue that he’s an authoritarian, but he’s not a fascist by any stretch of the imagination.
Overall, I don’t really trust Chavez, but I agree that he is mostly a positive figure in Latin and South America, if only for the reason that makes him despised among the elites. He has already become a strong symbol of South American grassroots power, and his success is seen region-wide as an example to be respected, if not followed. It’s easy to see why, when you consider how long South American governments have been serving the needs of global powers while oppressing, torturing, and even murdering their own citizens. Getting your neck out from under the jackboot will always be seen as a positive development, no matter who’s responsible for the change.
- Maria
[By the way, I hope the CIA doesn’t read this blog. ;) ]
September 26th, 2006 at 9:27 pm
I do think that his politics, or at least his politics as he claims them to be are good for Venezulans. However, I do have to fault his exection and presentation. He can’t honestly call Bush “Satan” and expect to be taken seriously.
-Carly
September 27th, 2006 at 11:10 pm
Ok… I’m From M?xico… I guess you all heard ’bout the ‘AMLO’ problems.. the mad guy who’s self proclamed The President of the Country… Well.. Hugo Chavez said, once the authority’s communicated that the offcial president according to the votes was ‘Felipe Caldern’… that he can’t recognice qhat’s happening here.. becaused ‘Lopez Obrador’ (AMLO) says he’s president too… buyt the fact is.. that LO is his friend and they were doing kind of ‘treats’… we don’t want to know what for… the fact is that he ain’t the president….
Well… I’m just advertising about the new release from these year… !!! I’m really amazed and excited.. I’m buying it tomorrow!!!! as fast as I can… You know… just abut 5 months ago, I wrote a song for You Duncan… asking you to come back… I consider you one of my artistic ‘masters’ because you help me to get my inspiration back… well.. too mush talking…..
Bye
October 1st, 2006 at 1:31 pm
I think that, as my favorite band says: “things seem so much better when, they are not part of your close sorroundings”… and certainly, to see how someone actually dares to disagree with the most powerful man in the world is great just because we dont really live in the country he rules. Of course, as Bush, as Castro, as many others who think they are right and the others are wrong, there?Ls many problems with chavez in venezuela. In this case, it doesnt matter how left Chavez think he is, he has huuuge mistakes as bush has and he?Ls doing a dictatorship in the same way bush is doing his, just using another words and with less money, that?Ls for sure. I?Lm from Mexico too and this thing with the left candidate here is pretty much what happens when you take radical positions, this stupid Obrador will take nothing but what he thinks is true, and he will dismiss those who thinks different, which is what Hugo Chavez is doing, little by little (no wonder why they are friends). For example, he just take the control of the media there, saying that many of the friends of the “empire” want to take him down but he?Ls restricting the freedom of expression in the meantime…
I know people from venezuela and they are not happy at all with chavez. His only good thing is, I guess, he has dared to do something we all would love to do: to call things for what they are. Because, and you dont need to be christian or catholic or to believe in something to see it, Bush is a devil, and a horrible kind… uff… is hard to speak about this without getting a little bit angry..hehe..
by the wya.. any chance you can come back to my country duncan? that would be just great! ;-)
bye!
October 1st, 2006 at 11:48 pm
Hi
I live in Ecuador, and have some friends from Venezuela. They don’t want to go back to their country; they are afraid, very afraid. And they are not part of the “elite”. But they have been threatened, most of their relatives have lost their jobs… Life is not that good there. It wasn’t before, of course; but I don’t think that a dictatorship is a good answer.
I?Ld say, from what they have told me, that Chavez is a dictator, no doubt about it.
And it seems very sad to me that we in Latin America shall need somebody that awful to go against Bush and the way he?Ls running the game. Neither Chavez nor Bush, I’d say…
BTW, I’ve only recently discovered this site, though I love Duncan’s music!
October 2nd, 2006 at 8:13 am
Hi
Well am from Mexico too and I hope he is not buying the drum machine to try to play Mexican Music…. Again … He really sucks!!
Am not Venezuelan but I have some friends there.. and they say he thinks he is some kind of Robin hood.. He wants to be like Castro just imagine..
He was great supporter of some mad man here in Mexico that lost the presidential elecctions on last July and went just crazy.. And Chavez said he didnt recognize the results because it was a fraud.. Yeah Rigth!!
Am not surprised of what he said in New York.
October 5th, 2006 at 9:45 pm
Well I was born in Venezuela and the situation over there is changing dramatically. I know this because my parents still have to deal with quite a bit over there. They own properties and if Chavez gets elected again in December of this year, he’ll be free to basically take away anything that anybody personally owns. In other words Venezuela will be a step closer to become a communist country. My friends also tell me how if you vote against him in the elections your name appears on a list and he’ll make your life impossible by not easily granting you a visa to travel abroad as that actually did happen to a friend. You’ll be on his blacklist. You could say people are a bit afraid.
You know it’s a shame because Venezuela is a beautiful country and the people there are super nice. I had to move back there to finish high school so I know that firsthand.
M.
October 6th, 2006 at 2:20 pm
Hello Mr. Sheik,
Just wanted to say hello. You have been on my mind.
(Yes, I know it’s off Topic but hey)
Hope things are good.
Best,
BW :)
October 8th, 2006 at 12:48 am
It’s been a while since an update, D. Pop in and say hello.
November 3rd, 2006 at 5:04 am
Reading some of the comments on this blog has inspired me to quite my job, apply for a government grant, and establish a foundation with the intent of finding a cure for the mental disorder known as liberalism. How anyone can speak of someone like Chavez with any sense of admiration shows just how out of touch Americans really are. Go live in one of the authentically repressive regimes of the world for a while and then come back and tell us how wonderful these “independent thinkers” really are and how evil America is. In the meantime, do not speak of that which you do not know.
November 3rd, 2006 at 7:05 pm
I don’t know about anyone else here, but for the past several generations, my family (myself included, by the way) *has* lived under several authentically repressive regimes, including one fully propped up and supported by the United States. Members of my family, friends, and neighbors have been murdered and tortured, all in the name of fighting that mental disorder you call liberalism. I will fully concede that there are serious problems and concerns with Chavez, but I do not want to back down from my claim that overall, he is a positive step forward. That is really how pathetic the situation in South America is. I fully welcome anything you have to say on the issue, but I only ask you not to put words in other people’s mouths and call them out of touch or plagued by a mental disorder.
November 18th, 2006 at 12:17 am
Soho_Mojo … I dont think anyone here is saying Chavez is the star, we are just pointing out how strange is that somebody actually dares to speak against Bush. And I dont know what you mean with “how out of touch americans are”. you mean people from the USA? because I?Lm mexican and I swear I?Lm very aware of the problems in Latin America in general… True, I dont live in the United States, but what Bush is doing is affecting to all of us, not just you people. Is ok to have an opinion, but to say that we should live in a dictatorship to learn “how good” is bush and company…come on! I respect you dont agree with us, but I would appreciate a coherent argument… cheers to everybody.. and Duncan, please come to Mexico!!